How workers are being hit by the cuts: Unite briefing ahead of
March 26th March for the Alternative
11am, Thursday, 24th March
Unite House
128 Theoblads Road
Holborn
London WC1X 8TN
Working people face a collapse in living standards and a future
of insecure work, Unite the union will reveal ahead of the massive
demonstration against the cuts set to shut down the capital on
March 26th.
Since December last year, Unite, has been following the impact
of the government's cuts programme on working people, resulting in
some 140,000 quantitative and qualitative responses to poll
questions.
The findings of this significant study of working people and
their journey through the cuts will be revealed to the media on
Thursday, March 24th.
Disturbing trends are emerging, for instance alongside a
predicted rise in joblessness, there is a widespread lowering of
wages and diminishing job security. It is also uncovering how some
regions are in the frontline of the cuts and indicating that for
the first time in the post-war period, the living standards of
working people are under intense pressure as they're forced to
swallow a toxic cocktail of services shutting, costs rising and
wages falling.
Thousands of people have also sent in qualitative reports on how
the cuts programme is impacting on their families' lives. These
comments will also be available for the media to view, offering an
insight into why thousands of people will feel compelled to march
on the 26th.
Mass1, a leading independent polling company, will present the
findings of the poll so far. This is also an opportunity for media
colleagues to look behind the headlines to read some of the
thousands of stories being sent as part of the survey.
Len McCluskey, Unite general secretary, will offer the union's
view on the importance of the March in the battle for an
alternative approach to deficit-management. Unite national
officials from the local government and voluntary sectors will also
be able to help the media drill down to the real impact of cuts in
the two sectors so far hardest hit, local government and the
voluntary sector.
ENDS
To attend the media brief, please email pauline.doyle@unitetheunion.org
